Apparatus for producing a continuous glass strip



Oct. 21, 1941. 5. LE MARE 2,259,755

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS GL ASS STRIP Filed Dec. 12, 1938ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE APPARATUS FORPRODUCING A CONTINU- oUs GLASS STRIP Ernest 'Bristow Le Mare, St.Helens, England, as,-

signor to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation ofOhio Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 245,11 In Great BritainFebruary 8, 1938 2 Claims.

formation is necessarily slow and the strip 'while plastic is liable todeformation if not supported at every point. In this respect diflicultyhas been found in supporting the strip in the interval between theforming roller and the next adjacent supporting means, whether this be aroller or a stationary bed. If it be a roller there is necessarily aninterval between the line of contact of the strip with the forming.roller and that with the supporting roller, and it is found that theedges of the strip sag downwards and are stretched in this interval.When the strip becomes flattened on its under surface by its subsequentsupporting means, the stretched edge portions curl upwards and presentdifliculties in the grinding of the strip.

A triangular shaped bed has been used to bridge the interval between theforming roller and the next adjacent supporting means, but a bed in thisposition is subjected to so much heat, in the case of a continuousprocess in which there is no interval for cooling, that it has beenfound imshowing an alternative form of strip rolling apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lower .and upper rollers I and 2respectively roll the molten glass 3 into a continuous strip 4, which isshown in dotted lines in Figure 2. After leaving the lower roller I, atthe point 5, the strip comes into contact with a stationary bed 6, atthe point I, and thereafter rests on the bed. The strip 4 in apparatusheretofore used, passes from the point 5 to the point I without supportand it has been found, as mentioned above, that in this gap the edgeportions cfthestrip sag downwards.

Side members 8 are supported on extensions 9 of the bed 6 and retainedin place by projections l0 and engaging grooves I I in the extensions.The side members 8 substantially bridge the gap between the lines ofsupport at 5 and I, and their outer surfaces I2 are curved to the curvewhich the strip takes in passing from one line of support to the other.The side members 8 then prevent downward saggingof the edges. of thestrip without altering the course of the strip in passing from theroller'I to the bed 6.

Figure 3 shows the device applied to a rolling apparatus with roller bedofrollers I3, instead of possible to preventits deformation, even whenit is water-cooled. The same diiiiculty arises when the next adjacentsupporting means is a stationary bed. If the stationary bed be continuedup to the line at which the strip leaves the forming roller, it becomesdeformed by the great heat to l which it is there subjected;

According to the invention, the main portion "of the strip passes fromthe forming roller to the next adjacent supporting means without supportand over this gap it becomes substantially cooler,

and can then be supported on'a roller or on a stationary bed withoutdiiliculty. Narrow side members are then provided to support the edgeportions in this gap so that they. do not sag downwards and becomestretched. The surface of these members is shaped to the curve taken bythe main portion of the strip, so that they do not alter the normalcourse taken passing over the gap.

In the accompanyingdrawing: Figure 1 is a. vertical cross-section of thedevice,

by. the strip in showing a strip rolling apparatus partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 on a much reduced scale, omittingthe upper roller, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of any supporting meansoveran interval im- 7 mediately following its formation, without any.

a stationary bed, the upper roller 2 being omitted. The rollers arecarried on side frames II, and the side members 8 are bolted toextensions I5 of these frames, 1

The form of mounting of the side members 8 shown in Figures 1 and 2permits the members being adjusted laterally in" position, to suitdifferent widths of strip. 3

A convenient width for-each support has been found to be about two andfahalf inches, and it is preferable that the edge ofthe strip shouldoverhang the support, as shown at I6, Figure 2, by a distance so smallthat the overhanging part does not sag. An overhangflof- %inch has beenfound satisfactory for strip 101 mm. in thickness. The supports may bemade ofvarious materials. Graphite-has been found satisfactory, but issubject to wear. cooling means be provided. A metal of better heatconductivity, such as copper or brass may be used without specialcooling means. The supports are chamfered on their inner edges I! toprevent formation of a ridge on the strip.

I By means of the invention, the advantage is retained of keeping thestrip substantially free disadvantage due to sagging of the edges.

Cast iron or steel may be used if a curved path from the said formingrollers to the said horizontal support, of side members substantiallybridging the gap located so as to support the edge portions only of thestrip, the supporting surface of said side members being curved tocorrespond to the curve taken by the unsupported central body portion ofthe said strip in passing over said gap.

2. The combination with a pair of forming rollers for rolling acontinuous strip of glass, 8. horizontal support for horizontallyreceiving the rolled strip thereon from the forming rollers andseparated from said forming rollers by a gap over which the central bodyportion of the strip is unsupported, said horizontal support being alsolocated beneath the point where the strip leaves the forming rollers sothat the unsupported central body portion of said strip follows a curvedpath from the said forming rollers to the said horizontal support, ofside members substantially bridging the gap located so as to support theedge portions only of the strip, the supporting surface of said sidemembers being curved to correspond to the curve taken by the unsupportedcentral body portion'of the said strip in passing over said gap, andmeans for adjustably mounting said side members for movement toward andaway from one another so that the strip will overhang the said sidemembers without sagging of the overhanging portions.

ERNEST BRISTOW LE MARE.

